Friday, October 21, 2016

On Wednesday, the CDC reported a troubling increase in cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. The majority of these cases are affecting people younger than 25 years old, and men accounted for 90% of reported syphilis cases. 2015 saw a 19% increase in syphilis cases from 2014, and a 13% increase in gonorrhea and 6% increase in chlamydia cases.

State and local budget cuts for over 50% of STD programs have had a negative impact on the healthcare infrastructure. According to Dr. Gail Bolan, director of the CDC Division of STP Prevention, more than 40% of clinic sites have reduced clinic operating hours, STD testing, and tracking potentially infected persons. In 2012, 20 healthcare providers closed their STD clinics. While the federal government does contribute to these STD programs, the amount of funding has not been able to outweigh the state and local budget cuts. Experts believe that the increase in STD prevalence is directly related to the decrease in federal, state, and local funding of STD programs.

Read about it yourself here: http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/10/20/498719092/std-infections-rise-to-new-highs-after-states-close-health-clinics?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=2046